Chapter 146: Cooperation, Dust Release Cells! (Seeking Subscriptions, Moon Tickets)
"Supporting the Fourth Hokage is supporting me!" Sarutobi Asuma chuckled. "As for the request."
"It's not really a request, more like a collaboration." Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flashed slightly, and he quickly said, "Please, go ahead!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded slightly and said, "The Sharingan, unless it's the Mangekyo, isn't much to me. I didn't have many ideas about it in the past."
"However, if I want to achieve Kekkei Mōra, then the Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta that exist in the ninja world are subjects I must research."
Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed subtly, but he didn't speak immediately.
Sarutobi Asuma noticed but didn't care, continuing, "I won't use living people for research, and with my current abilities, I don't need to. Does the Uchiha clan have any preserved Sharingan?"
"If not, some blood samples can also be used for research. The results of the research can be shared with the Uchiha clan."
Uchiha Fugaku secretly relaxed and immediately agreed.
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "Overusing the Sharingan can lead to vision loss, and the Mangekyo is even more so, likely due to Yin-Yang imbalance."
"Therefore, it's best to master Yang Release."
"Of course, this is just my speculation."
"Patriarch Fugaku, why don't you let some of your female clan members go to Lady Tsunade to learn Medical Ninjutsu?"
This suggestion surprised Uchiha Fugaku, who then thanked him and accepted. This was indeed a good method.
After a moment of hesitation, Uchiha Fugaku requested, "My son, Itachi, is already six years old. I wonder if he could be apprenticed to you?"
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head and flatly refused, "Itachi becoming my student wouldn't benefit the Uchiha clan. Having Shisui teach him is sufficient."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded and didn't, nor dared to, press further.
The collaboration was settled.
After seeing Uchiha Fugaku off, Sarutobi Asuma thought for a moment, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to arrive directly at the Hokage building.
In the Hokage's office, Namikaze Minato was swamped with work. Seeing Sarutobi Asuma, he visibly relaxed and smiled, "Asuma, what's up?"
"Jiraiya-sensei is back in Konoha, and my and Kushina's child already has a name – Naruto. It's the name of the protagonist in Jiraiya-sensei's new book!"
Showing off! Pure and simple showing off! What's more, Namikaze Minato had a hint of shyness, with a 99.9% happy smile.
This is too much! Sarutobi Asuma decided then and there that he must properly train Naruto in the future! He'd teach him the Sexy Jutsu as his first ninjutsu!
Gritting his teeth secretly, Sarutobi Asuma sat down at the desk. "Since Jiraiya-sama is back, you should go notify Tsunade-neechan. Maybe you can catch him in the Hot Spring District and beat him up to relax your mood."
"Uh, hahaha, that's true!" Minato wore an embarrassed smile.
Sarutobi Asuma continued his criticism, "With Jiraiya-sama like that, he'll probably be a lone dog his entire life."
"And that guy Kakashi."
"Minato-niisan, as his teacher, and as the Fourth Hokage, you must pay attention to the romantic lives of your students and subordinates, right?"
Minato replied helplessly, "Kakashi is still young, isn't he?"
Sarutobi Asuma immediately looked down on him, "Minato-niisan, at your age, you should have already won over Kushina-neechan, right?"
"Uh, that... I guess so!" Minato looked embarrassed.
Did he really not pay enough attention to Kakashi?
However, Kakashi and Rin... and Obito. Minato felt a headache coming on.
Seeing Minato's expression, Sarutobi Asuma felt a sense of satisfaction. People are like that; they can't stand seeing others happy.
"Fourth Hokage-sama, today I met Uchiha Fugaku..." Sarutobi Asuma turned serious, his address changing as he abruptly shifted the topic.
Namikaze Minato also quickly shifted his role, listening quietly to Sarutobi Asuma's account.
After Sarutobi Asuma finished, Namikaze Minato asked, "Asuma, are you trying to use this opportunity to change the Uchiha clan?"
"I wouldn't say change."
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head and said, "The human heart is the most difficult thing to fathom, let alone change or control it."
"For now, it's just guidance."
"The Uchiha clan's power is immense. Unless they are completely eliminated, if the current situation continues to develop, problems will arise sooner or later." Namikaze Minato nodded in agreement. "The rift is growing deeper, and the Uchiha's dissatisfaction with the village will only intensify. If things continue like this, they might eventually walk down a path detrimental to both the Uchiha and the village."
He knew about the Uchiha's problems, and the roots of those problems were planted back in the Second Hokage's era. Inheriting the Second Hokage's mantle, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and especially Danzō, were even more vigilant and targeted towards the Uchiha clan. It couldn't be helped; as a clan that, along with the Senju, led the establishment of Konoha, they remained incredibly powerful even after the split during Uchiha Madara's time. Almost all those who awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan were reliably Jonin, even elite Jonin. Within Konoha, in terms of clan strength, the Uchiha were definitely first.
Namikaze Minato also had to consider one problem: what if Obito couldn't be saved? If the Sharingan took control of the Nine-Tails, even if it wasn't successful, the rift between the Uchiha and the village would widen to an unrecoverable point. Thinking of this, Namikaze Minato even felt a bit fortunate that Sarutobi Asuma had eliminated Danzō earlier.
"The Uchiha clan's strength is not yet fearsome, so we need to take this opportunity to guide and channel them."
"The new methods for awakening and evolution won't be decisive, but they can serve as a catalyst." Sarutobi Asuma revealed his thoughts. "First, we need to strengthen cooperation and enhance mutual trust. Only then can we take other measures."
"For example, the Security Force."
Namikaze Minato was slightly surprised and mused, "The Uchiha heading the Security Force will indeed face much criticism, even though this seems like a minor matter." Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "It all adds up!"
"Another point is that the Uchiha are kept away from the village's political center. We can try to change that bit by bit."
Namikaze Minato nodded and said, "I intend to select personnel from both the Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan to join the Anbu." He was confident in his own strength and wasn't afraid of the Uchiha rebelling. He hadn't witnessed the astonishing power of Uchiha Madara, nor did he harbor the same deep-seated fear of the Uchiha as the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Danzō. Sarutobi Asuma feared them even less. As long as they didn't have the Rinnegan, they would obediently work and fight for the village!
"The Ninja Academy is also a very important means. We should increase investment, not just for commoners, but also for children of all ages from the major ninja clans. They must attend the Ninja Academy so they can integrate from a young age and be enveloped by the Will of Fire."
"Increasing investment in the Ninja Academy is fine, and the Will of Fire can be passed on by the Third Hokage. However, forcing children of all ages from the major ninja clans to attend the Ninja Academy requires a gentler approach... Asuma, why don't you send a Shadow Clone to the Ninja Academy?"
"I think those ninja clans will flock to it then."
...
After all was said and done, Sarutobi Asuma realized he had set himself up, soon to become a proud teacher at the Ninja Academy.
In the evening, Sarutobi Asuma received a sealed scroll from Uchiha Shisui and couldn't wait to head to the underground experimental base of the Senju Ancestral Home. Here, in various laboratories, numerous Shadow Clones were busy at work. Tsunade and Shizune were not present today. Sarutobi Asuma ventured deep into the experimental base, entering a laboratory filled with various instruments. A Shadow Clone was also here. Hearing footsteps, it turned around and smiled, "What a coincidence, the cells for Dust Release have been fully cultivated."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Asuma raised an eyebrow, couldn't help but smile, "It seems we have double good news today!" He quickened his pace and then saw a glass tank filled with solution, in which a pale hand was submerged.
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